Ok, ok, you caught me. Only one of these exists in the present. The first picture is before, the second is after alteration. I simply couldn't stand the first version....
In the beginning, after I'd finished "knitting" the bulk of the bracelet, I was very happy with the quality and colors, and I eagerly awaited its completion. But when I put the chain together with the end caps and clasp, something was missing. The design just begged for more flair.
I thought maybe a nice focal bead would do the trick, but none of the beads I already owned fit the bill -- they were too small or were not the right color.
To the hobby shop!!! I bought a string of some heavy glass beads whose color was a opalescent pink and champagne and gold. They were shiny and sparkly and -- I thought -- an excellent color match. (They were also on sale. Win.) I proudly brought them home, smug as a Viking sailing back from a good day's pillaging. Until I made a discovery....
Side A:
Side B:
Foiled by my own enthusiasm! I hadn't checked both sides of the beads to see if they were the same color or not. Who would have thought I'd have had to??? The first side was one set of colors, the second was a funny iridescent green.
I didn't like this green at all. It didn't suit the colors in the weave. But I wanted to give it a chance, and so played around, paired it with some smaller beads, and agonized for quite some time....
In the end, I still didn't like the big green bead. The smaller beads around it also rang hollow. The longer I examined my handiwork, the less I liked it, until I marched down to the hobby shop for new materials.
When back home, I cut the beads out, made my adjustments, and unveiled my new creation to the world.
These feather-shaped charms resonate much better with the gypsy "spirit" that inspired the chain in the first place, as well as improving the design in general. Maybe the sparkly big bead wasn't terrible, but I think I prefer the more earthy feeling of the metal feathers.
Personally, after all that trouble, I'm glad the other bracelet only exists in the past.
